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Semiconductor Process Engineer Jobs in California

Periodic Labs

Process Development Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$175K - $275K/yr

... semiconductor industry. You will contribute to lab design and expansion, define hardware ... Process Engineering: Bring structure to unstructured workflows by establishing process control ...

Micross

Senior Process Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$100K - $135K/yr

Hands-on Experience in Semiconductor Back End Process Engineering required. * Hands-on Experience in wafer thinning, dicing, die-attach, flip chip, and wire bonding preferred Knowledge/Skills: * 10 ...

Micross

Senior Process Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$100K - $135K/yr

Hands-on Experience in Semiconductor Back End Process Engineering required. * Hands-on Experience in wafer thinning, dicing, die-attach, flip chip, and wire bonding preferred Knowledge/Skills: * 10 ...

Applied Materials

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$100K - $136K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Amat

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$147K - $202K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Applied Materials

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$147K - $202K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Amat

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$147K - $202K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Applied Materials

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$147K - $202K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Amat

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$100K - $136K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Amat

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$147K - $202K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Amat

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$124K - $171K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Amat

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$100K - $136K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Applied Materials

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$100K - $136K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

Amat

Process Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$100K - $136K/yr

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing ... You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor ...

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All JobsSemiconductor Process Engineer JobsSemiconductor Process Engineer Jobs in California

Semiconductor Process Engineer information

See California salary details

$48.9K

$90.8K

$140.6K

How much do semiconductor process engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for semiconductor process engineer in California is $90,813.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,500.00 and $101,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Semiconductor Process Engineers in their daily work?

Semiconductor Process Engineers frequently encounter challenges such as troubleshooting yield losses, identifying defects, and addressing variations in process performance. The role requires careful analysis to pinpoint root causes of issues and the ability to swiftly implement solutions without disrupting the overall production schedule. Engineers must also adapt quickly to evolving technologies and stay current with best practices to keep manufacturing lines efficient. Balancing strict quality standards with the fast pace of semiconductor production can be demanding, but it also provides valuable learning opportunities and the satisfaction of directly impacting cutting-edge technology.

What is a Semiconductor Process Engineer job?

A Semiconductor Process Engineer develops, optimizes, and monitors manufacturing processes for semiconductor devices. They work in cleanroom environments, focusing on lithography, etching, doping, and deposition to improve yield and efficiency. Their role involves troubleshooting process issues, collaborating with design and production teams, and ensuring quality standards are met. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, along with knowledge of semiconductor fabrication techniques and process control methods.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Semiconductor Process Engineer position, and why are they important?

A Semiconductor Process Engineer typically requires a degree in materials science, electrical engineering, or a related field, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills to optimize manufacturing processes. Familiarity with cleanroom protocols, semiconductor fabrication tools like photolithography equipment, and statistical process control (SPC) software is highly beneficial. Effective teamwork, attention to detail, and strong communication abilities help engineers collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and clearly address production issues. These competencies are essential to ensure consistent product quality, operational efficiency, and rapid innovation in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

What are popular job titles related to Semiconductor Process Engineer jobs in California? For Semiconductor Process Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Semiconductor Process Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Semiconductor Process Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Semiconductor Process Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Semiconductor Process Engineer job openings:
Semiconductor Process Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Semiconductor Process Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $90,813 per year, or $43.7 per hour.

Process Development Engineer

Periodic Labs

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

$175K - $275K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

About Periodic Labs
The most important scientific discoveries of our time won't happen in a traditional lab. We're an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and beyond. Backed by world-class investors and growing rapidly, we operate at the pace the frontier requires. Our team brings deep expertise, genuine ownership, and an insatiable drive to push the boundaries of what's scientifically possible.
About the Role
As a Process Development Engineer, you will play a crucial role in designing and optimizing the workflows and tools that enable high-efficiency process technologies, primarily for the semiconductor industry. You will contribute to lab design and expansion, define hardware engineering specs, perform hardware characterization, and troubleshoot complex engineering issues.
You will also be hands-on in establishing and standardizing process flows, generating and analyzing data, creating technical documentation, and engaging with customers to ensure alignment between lab capabilities and market needs. In this role, you will experiment, learn, and collaborate daily with internal teams spanning AI/ML, simulation, automation, and physics/chemistry to build scalable solutions for high-value problems.
What You'll Do
  • Process Engineering: Bring structure to unstructured workflows by establishing process control metrics. Conduct complex design of experiments (DOE), define recipe structures from scratch, implement statistical process control (SPC) and fault detection and classification (FDC), and extend these practices across a wide range of equipment.
  • Lab Development: Contribute to the design, construction, and scale-up of an AI-accelerated thin-film and semiconductor processing laboratory, enabling scientists to pursue materials discovery.
  • Customer & Vendor Engagement: Communicate and engage directly with key customers and vendors to resolve highly complex process engineering issues and address customer High Value Problems (HVPs). Build modular test stands or hardware needed for proof-of-concept experiments.
  • Documentation & Data: Create internal and external documentation, strategies, procedures, presentations, and technical reports, and establish standardized data pipelines to feed into AI training infrastructure.

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have
  • BS, MS, or PhD in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical), Materials Science, or a related field.
  • Extensive hands-on experience in process engineering or equipment engineering in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
  • Strong understanding of overall semiconductor process flows and cross-module process integrations.
  • Expertise in the hardware design and underlying mechanisms of high-vacuum systems, advanced deposition/etch platforms, or metrology tools.
  • Startup-ready mindset: able to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment while implementing industry-standard best practices.

Mechanics
Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and training or experience
Location: Our lab is located in Menlo Park and we prefer folks to be located in Menlo Park or San Francisco but can be flexible based on role
Compensation: The annual compensation range for this role - $175,000-$275,000
Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support.
We're building a team of the world's best - the scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers who don't just follow the frontier, they define it. If you're driven to bring AI to life in the physical world and make discoveries that have never been made before, you belong here.

Apply